THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407270123
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBYNE R. COOKE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
ONE WOMAN accused him of being a fraud because he wasn't wearing a Santa Claus suit. Several people asked, ``You're starting a little early this year, aren't you?''
But for the most part, people have been generous, said Rusty Cunanan, a volunteer with the Salvation Army.
The non-profit organization ran its first ``Christmas in July'' program last week to help raise money for the needy. Cunanan rang the customary bell in front of the Super Fresh in College Park on a Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Although people mostly tossed in their spare change, Cunanan did get some dollar bills, the Navy dental technician said.
The program ran from July 18 to July 23. Last week, more than $2,000 was raised by bell-ringers working at 17 stations in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, said Cynthia Gerard, developmental associate for the Salvation Army in Norfolk.
Bell-ringers worked at Wal-Marts, K marts, Waterside, Military Circle Mall and Pembroke Mall, Gerard said.
``The idea is that need has no season,'' Gerard said. ``Most people associate Salvation Army with Christmastime. People are just more in tune with giving during the holiday season.''
Gerard said that during summer months, people are typically spending a lot of time with their children and vacationing. They tend to forget the needy.
David and Melinda Nimmer, a Virginia Beach couple, spent four hours at Waterside ringing the bell for donations.
``I think people were a little surprised,'' David Nimmer said. ``The children noticed us first. We had a very friendly response to it. I think Waterside is a good location for it - people are on vacation and they're planning to spend money anyway.''
Typically, the Salvation Army raises about $180,000 during its Christmas season of bell-ringing outside stores and in malls, said Betty Liston, business administrator for the Salvation Army.
But Liston is not discouraged with the ``Christmas in July'' donations.
``This is a new thing for us, and we just wanted to see how it would go,'' she said. ``People have been very cooperative.''
Another part of the project was encouraging food donations, Liston said.
``Food collections were really down this year,'' she said. ``This is the first time in a long time that we've had to spend money to keep the food pantry going.''
As part of the ``Christmas in July'' program, boxes were set up at 32 Food Lions in three Hampton Roads cities where people could donate food.
Liston said the Salvation Army intends to make ``Christmas in July'' an annual event. MEMO: For information on becoming a Salvation Army volunteer, call Betty
Liston at 622-7275.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Salvation Army volunteer Myron Fuller waves to shoppers in front of
Wal-Mart on North Battlefield Boulevard. Fuller was helping with the
recent ``Christmas in July'' program.
by CNB